§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many staff from his Department were seconded to private sector companies in(a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to April 2000; and if he will list in each case the companies to which staff were sent, the names and ranks of the staff involved and the duration of the secondment. [123421]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 24 May 2000]: Secondments and attachments are part of the Interchange Initiative which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the Civil Service and other organisations. All sectors of the economy are involved: Voluntary, Education, Health, Public and Private. Interchange is a key component of the reform agenda. The Modernising Government White Paper committed us to increasing interchange, in particular by bringing in more people on secondment and sending more of our people out.
The information requested in the question subparts:
(a) For the period May 1997 to April 1998 two staff were involved in secondments to:Coopers and Lybrand, Grade 7 (3 November 1997 to 3 September 1998)Capita/RAS. Grade 7 (10 November 1997 to 5 February 2000)(b) For the period May 1998 to April 1999 two staff were involved in secondments to:Alternative Crops Technology Information Network, HSO (1 June 1998 to 30 November 1999)Capita/RAS. Grade 7 (15 September 1998 to 30 September 2000); Grade 7 (10 March 1999 to 9 July 2000)(c) For the period May 1999 to April 2000 see (b).